Foldable and Flexible Head Shade

ABSTRACT

A compact shade held over the head during inclement weather or to shield the sun. The shade has a simple circular or elongated loop of a thin strip of spring-like material covered by a sheet of one or more layers of soft, lightweight material. The shape of the elongated loop may vary from a generally rectangular shape with slightly rounded corners to an oval or generally elliptical shape. One or both of the major surfaces of the material are adapted to reflect water, snow, or radiation from the sun. The single elongated fabric-covered loop of the head shade can easily be twisted into a figure-8 configuration and fold into itself with two quick hand motions. The shade is made of soft, lightweight flexible material having two handles on the underside. It can be held together in its compact state with either a retaining member or separate pouch.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a compact shade that blocks the head of someone in inclement weather or the sun. The head shade is lightweight, compact, foldable, and flexible. The invention will solve the problem of a portable, easy to carry, head shade. Conventional umbrellas typically have cumbersome long, bulky handles. While engaged, typical umbrellas take up a lot of space and can be a hindrance to many other people using the same device. It becomes difficult to collapse a typical umbrella especially when entering into an automobile or other public transportation. A conventional umbrella would have to be lowered outside of a vehicle thus creating a nuisance for its use. The typical umbrella is not easily carried. The flexible, compact head shade can be quickly folded and easily stored and carried in a purse, briefcase, or pocket.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of this invention is to give people, in inclement weather or sun, a quick and easy way to shade their head. The head shade is supported by a resilient loop member that twists and folds into a Figure-8 configuration to reduce its overall size for easy storage. It's a simple structure made of a soft and flexible material having two handles on the underside. The head shade is easy to deploy for overhead use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is an elevational top view, particularly broken away, of the head shade of the present invention illustrating the internal resilient support loop;

FIG. 2 is an elevational bottom view, of the head shade of the present invention illustrating the internal resilient support loop;

FIGS. 3 and 4 shows the head shade as it is starting to be folded. The head shade is grasped on both sides, one hand on each side. One hand twist clockwise, the other counterclockwise, to begin the folding process.

FIG. 5 shows the complete twist with the optional retaining member.

FIG. 6 shows the optional retaining member holding the completed twisted head shade in place. The second option is to place the twisted head shade into a pouch (not shown).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the head shade 20 is formed by one resilient loop member 22 comprised of a closed resilient loop. One end of the closed loop 22 is grasped and twisted by 360 degrees with respect to the other end forming a figure-8 shape. The overlapping or cross-over portions of the loop 22 may then be secured together with an optional retaining member 50.

The resilient loop member 22 is preferably made from a relatively strong spring-like material, which is flexible enough to allow it to be coiled. The preferred material for the loop member 22 includes a flat spring steel stock, and in particular, stainless steel, although plastic may also be used. The resilient loop member 22 may be provided as a single closed loop or as a continuous strip of material with both ends held together by a retaining connector 23 or other conventional attachment mechanisms.

Referring to FIG. 1, the loop member 22 is retained in a loop retaining portion 21 of one or more fabric pieces. Since the loop member 22 forms one closed loop, one fabric piece 32 is provided. The fabric piece 32 forms a panel within the respective closed loop 22.

The fabric piece 32 is preferably made from a sheet of water-resistance or metallic material that is effective in blocking water or sunlight from entering or penetrating through and may be made from sheet fabric, woven fabric, nylon, or any other water resistance fabric.

The loop member 22 may be retained at the loop retaining portion 21 by a number of different methods. In a first method, this is illustrated in FIG. 1 a sleeve 33 is formed along the loop retaining portion 21 to house or retain the loop member 22. The sleeve may be formed by folding a peripheral edge of the fabric over the loop member 22 and then stitching, or by providing a separately formed tubular sleeve that is stitched to the fabric 32 along the loop retaining portion 21. In a second preferred method, the loop member 22 may be mechanically fastened, glued, or fused to the loop retaining portion 21. Other conventional methods may be used without departing from the moral fiber or scope of the present invention.

When provided, the fabric piece 32 also allows for two handles 40 to be attached thereto on the head shade underside portion as shown in FIG. 2 These handles 40 provide the mechanism for holding the head shade.

It will be appreciated that the handles 40 can be positioned anywhere on the underside fabric 32.

Further, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other conventional attachment devices, such as plastic, elastic, or fabric may be used in place of the handles 40 without departing from the moral fiber and scope of the present invention.

-   The shape of the closed loop 22 and of the resulting head shade 20     is not important as long as they are sized and shaped so that they     sufficiently support the head shade 20. Any shape may be used. For     example, the closed loop 22 may be circular, oval, truncated     circular, truncated oval, substantially rectangular, or any other     variety of shapes.

FIGS. 3 through 6 describes the various steps for folding and collapsing the head shade 20 of FIG. 1 for storage. The first step, as shown in FIG. 3, is to twist and fold the structure 360 degrees forming a figure-8 configuration to initially collapse the loop and fabric into a smaller diameter. As shown in FIG. 4, the second step is to collapse so that the size of the structure is a fraction of the diameter of the initial structure. FIG. 5 shows the third step with the fabric panel collapsed to provide for a small essentially compact configuration having a plurality of a concentric closed loop ring and layer of fabric so that the collapsed structure has a size that is a fraction of the size of the structure FIG. 1.

In addition, referring to FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6, a retaining member 50 may be attached to one end of the head shade and may be used to tie or hold the collapsed head shade 20 in a collapsed position. Alternatively, a bag or pouch (not shown) may be used to store the collapsed head shade 20.

FIG. 6 illustrates the fully closed head shade with the single loop member 22 consisting of two loop rings intertwined to lie flat. In the collapsed position, the structure would have a diameter of less than six inches, which makes it easy to store the head shade inside a briefcase, purse, or pocket.

While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modification may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to shade such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.

The advantages of the present invention include, without limitation, an existing need for a low-cost, easily manufactured, efficient head shade with can be held over the head using only handles to use as a shield.

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed. 

I claim:
 1. A foldable, collapsible shade for deployment to be held over the head comprising: a sheet of at least one layer of flexible first material, said sheet having front and back surfaces, with at least one of said surfaces includes a water resistant material or one that reflects light. A single closed loop of a strip of spring-like second material secured to said sheet throughout the entire perimeter thereof, with the same fabric or a border/hem of different fabric. Wherein said head shade has two handles attached to first material. Wherein said head shade can be (1) deployed in a first open configuration, to a pre-determined size, and, (2) twisted to form at least a pair of sections, said sections form a plurality of concentric rings to substantially reduce its size to form a second, compact configuration for storage.
 2. The head shade of claim 1, further comprising of two handles which can be placed anywhere upon the shade.
 3. The head shade of claim 1, wherein the handles are made of fabric.
 4. The head shade of claim 1, wherein the handles are made of plastic.
 5. The head shade of claim 1, wherein the handles are made of elastic.
 6. The head shade of claim 1, wherein the first material layer is waterproof material.
 7. The head shade of claim 1, wherein the first material is nylon.
 8. The head shade of claim 1, wherein the first material is light reflective.
 9. The head shade of claim 1, wherein the retaining flexible body includes a hem adjacent to the perimeter to enclose the spring-like material.
 10. The head shade of claim 1, wherein the head shade further comprises of one elastic member attached to the fabric piece.
 11. The head shade of claim 1, wherein said closed loop has a general shape of an elongated oval.
 12. The head shade of claim 1, wherein said closed loop has a general rectangular shape with slightly rounded corners.
 13. The head shade of claim 1, wherein said strip of spring-like material comprises of spring steel.
 14. The head shade of claim 1, wherein said strip of spring-like material comprises metal wire.
 15. The head shade of claim 1, wherein said strip of spring-like material comprises a springy plastic material.
 16. The head shade of claim 1, wherein said strip is sewn into a hem of said sheet along the perimeter thereof.
 17. The head shade of claim 1, wherein said strip of spring-like material comprises means for maintaining said head shade in said compact configuration.
 18. The head shade of claim 1, wherein said means for maintaining comprises a loop of elastic material attached to said sheet near the perimeter thereof to be used as a carrying handle or a retaining member. 